Conveying system and valve construction therefor



CONVEYING SYSTEM AND VALVE CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR Filed Feb. 28, 1962 M. J. BOZICH 4 Sheets-Sheet l May 25, 1965 INVENTOR. (01m/ALL J. oZICH.

BY mun/I7 Y M v 9 TTUZA/l 71S:

CONVEYINGSYSTEM AND VALVE CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR Filed Feb. 28, 1962` M. J. BOZICH May 25, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VALVE OPEN- INVENTOR. MJC/A954. J. OzJcM Y M eA/5 KS.

May 25, 1965 3,185,434

CONVEYING SYSTEM AND VALVE CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 28, 1962 INVENTOR. (VIe/m61. J. bozze-M M. J. BOZICH May 25, 1965 CONVEYING SYSTEM AND VALVE CONSTRUCTION THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 28. 1962 UAWMHI INVENTOR. 1 @rc1/651. J ozIc/J.

f "lvlichael J.

" l for granular` materl larly to a divertingvalve -for a pneumatic conveying sys- [tempvvhich' is usable for selectively directing la ovv of material conveyed through vamain conduit into a branch e. f

p conduit leading lto a stdrag'erbin or the like. Wrong discharge Opening veying system in"` general and `the fvalve structures'ifor'rlf.

`any one ofrseveraldilferent locations. For example,.these. Y i locationsgcan be a series' of bins forstorage, "reactionV n chambers, tank cars, `truc'zlrfsor the like.

mitted under pneumaticpressure. onthelike and can be means.` p p t f It is a -fiirther lobjecto theinvention to provide aplu- .Y

rality.L of= independently operatedfldiverting valves keach of whichiseiectiveto control the point of discharge of i material transferred within a conduit, s aid devices being e not; substantiallyaiected. That isytheselectivelyeand insource of substantial power loss. f

`A ifurther object'ef the invention is i of discharge of only onevalve sothat its quantitywill not UnitedStates Patent o `CONVEYINGf ,SYSTEM AND VALVE CONSTRUCTIN THEREFOR Bozich, 1059`Eay RidgepAve., Pittsburgh, Pa.

e i Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,234 i 3.-:Clain1s.` `((ll. 251-134) Y This invention re tes tol pneumatic conveying Isystems andtuthe like", and more `particu- In systems fr conveying` solid materials such as" granu` laringredientsWhich arehighly abrasive, itis' necessary` to `maintain the conveying system as streamlined aspha-` sible irl-order toreducefthe eiiects'of abrasion on the' con-` controlling discharge particular; Furthermore, it is also important to provide a number` of Vdiiierent outlets so that the" material` beingconveyed can `be dischargedaat It is `an object.` of vthe present invention` toi `provide a conveying'system in which solidA material can be trans- .p

discharged into ,anyone of4 several different locations by; means of'a novel Esystem Vof interrelatedvdiverting va1ve 30 "sof` related that-thc efficiency. of the conveyingsystem is dependently operable valves of the invent: n jarenot a Y. A to provide anovel control systernj`"-which-` prevents the possibility/ofi discharging material `into` the wrong location,-thi`s being accomplished by means of `a` novel control` system combined with the valve arrangement. y

A further object of"` the invention is to provide a diverting valve system in Ihich the main `low of material is opposedat the pointof discharge a gaseous llovv which is equal in pressure tojthe `main tlovv; and isprovided in volume suilicient to effect adequate diversion, the specific p rate of flow-of the opposing gas being selected in ac-` cordance with the material and abrasive qualities thereof i which are being discharged. e

A novel featurewof'the inventionis that regardless of themnumber of valves, diverting air is used` at the `point change regardless of the number of valves in the conveying system. i

f` `Qther objects and features for the `invention will become e x apparent from a `consideration. of thel following descrip-f tion Whichproceedsvvith reference to the accompanying drawings, `,vi/herein: v w Y FIGUREI is a schematic .viewofa conveying system` having aim'ain` distribution conduitandforoutlets each having an associated diverting valve so. that thematerial 1in@ rrru1 of Pro. 2;

j support arm therefor;

of FIG. 4;

Patented May 25,1955

FIG. 4 .is a detailed view of the valve construction and EIG. 5 is a cross-sectionalview taken alongelineivVe-V FIG. 6 is `a schematic illustration o5 the action of a through the valve of the inventiongand Asecondary air source in diverting `finelyV dividedmaterial FIG. 7-is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating how the diverting valves are electrically interconnected to'pre` vent accidential discharge ofthe material through the Referring now to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. l, there is provided apneumatic conveying conduit I0 of steel or the like which is suitable for conducting the conveyed material, such as crushed pulverulent' material, alongthelength of the conduit under the action of pneumatic pressure.` The material passes continuously through Vthe conduit at a rate and pressure suicient to carry the conveyed material therewith. The material iiows at a rather high velocity",` as foreitample G-8,00() lineal `feet per minute and has an abrasive effectupon theconduit which dictates arsffnearly a' streamlined construction 'as possibleft i At spaced intervals along the length of the conduit the length of the conduitsince the valves are not a source Y Vofpres'sure loss nor dothey present any substantial obstruction to flow. `In other-Words, the valves do not require any substantial increase in pressure for the primary air flow.

" The diverting valves `are usable not only for directing the flow of material into storage bins, but can also bef-used Y for channeling the material into reaction chambers, other `conveying systems, or the like. It is a characteristic of each of thevalve assemblies Vthat its construction is stream- Within abox section casing 32 having end Walls 34 and 36 including Aopenings 33 and 35 through which thepneumatic conduit 10 passsand side Walls 38 and 39 which provide a supporting surface for the valve and valve act tuator. The portion of the conduit It-Within box assembly 32is provided with a discharge opening 40 in its lower side through Which material conveyed Within conduit 10 is discharged into the box assembly 32. As

shown, the box assembly 32- has an open bottom provided With `a llange 3l which, in `turnf,'is connected to the periphery of a conduit 22, 2d,` 26 or 28 (FIG. 1) leading to `an associated storage bin or the like, or to an opening in the` storage bin itself. The'opening 4d is covered byan appropriate gasket 42 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which forms `a `anyot the conveyed material from leaving the conduit 10 and `also t'o` prevent anykpresure drop ofthe primary pneumatic pressure.

The gasket d2 has a similarly shaped backingddwhich reinforces the resilient gasket 42 and holds it against the surface of the conduit 1t? surrounding the elliptical open- Y fing d.

`constitutes the functional ,.portionof the valve, `and is The combination ot seal 4t2 and backing 44 are t l valve `assemblies `designed generallyfby reference letters A, B, C and D, allgof which are of substantially the same referred to as a ap valve 45. The flap valve is carried by a support arm 46 which, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, comprises spaced bars 48 and 50 sandwiched between bars 52 and 54 to provide an opening 55 for the reception of an eyebolt 58, the eyebolt being held in position by means of a bolt 59. The valve support arm is apertured at 62 to receive a shaft 64 which is journaled at its opposite ends in bearings 65 and 67 (FIG. 3) carried on walls 38 and 39 of the casing 32. The backing 44 and gasket 42 are carried on the eyebolt 58 as shown in FIG. 4 such that the entire assembly can be adjustably rotated about the axis of the bolt 59 by turning the adjusting bolts 60 and 61 which are treaded into, and extend through, the support arm 46. As will be understood, the combination of eyebolt 58 and the bolts 60 and 61 provide a means for adjusting the position of the backing 44 so that the sealing portion or gasket 42 is urged snugly against the conduit 10 to effect a tight sealing pressure therewith.

Projecting outwardly from one side of the support arm 46 is a bar 69 which, when the support arm is disposed vertically as shown in dotted line position in FIG. 3, engages a cam 66 to effect rotation of the switch arm 4 duit 10 and through any one of the valves A-D which is open into its associated storage bin 22-28.

It will be understood by reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 that when any valve is closed with the gasket 42 in sealing engagement with the opening 40, granular or the like material in conduit 10 will pass over the opening 40 and onto a succeeding valve. However, when the valve is open (i.e., the dotted line position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), material will continue through the valve to a point directly above the opening 44. At this point, the pressure from blower 114 will stop the movement of both the conveyed material and the primary air from blower 100 which accomplishes the pneumatic convey- 68 and thereby actuate limit switch 70. When the arm 46 is in its normal horizontally disposed position, as shown in full lines in FIG. 3, an arm 72 on the backing 44 engages cam 74 to rotate switch arm 75 and actuate limit switching 76. As will be seen, these two limit switches and 76 are related so that the operation of the valve assembly will not divert a ow of the material being conveyed within the conduit 10 to the wrong location. The valve is operated between a closed horizontal position and vertical open position by means of the shaft 64 which is driven by a sprocket wheel 78 having a drive chain connection with a sprocket wheel 82, this latter sprocket being driven by motor 84 through a gear reducer 86 mounted on top of the casing 32.

The material is fed into the conduit 10 by apparatus of the general type shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,565,946 or copending application Serial No. 120,719, tiled lune 29, 1961. As shown in FIG. 1, such apparatus consists of a pair of hoppers 90 and 92 arranged vvertically one above the other. Only the lower portion of the upper hopper 90 is shown, it being understood that this hopper is provided with an open top to permit granular or powdered material to be poured therein. The lower hopper 92, designated as a delivery hopper, is provided with a funnel-shaped bottom 94 having an opening 96 leading into a T-section pipe 98 which, at its right-hand end is connected to the conveying conduit 10 that conveys material to the valves A-D. The left end of the T-section pipe 98 is connected, as shown, to a blower 100 of any standard construction, the power for such blower being supplied by an electric motor 102.

Interconnecting the hoppers 90 and 92 is a section 104 having a flap 106 therein which is pivotally connected to section 104 as at 108. Under normal conditions, the ap 106 will rotate downwardly about pivot point 108 to permit the material from hopper 90 to ow into hopper 92. When, however, an air blast is introduced into section 104 through conduit 110, air pressure will build up above the material in hopper 92 to rotate the flap 106 upwardly into the position shown such that it will block off the passageway between hoppers 90 and 92 and shut off the supply of material to hopper 92. Air under pressure may be supplied to section 104 to rotate the ap 106 upwardly by means of a valve 112 in the conduit 10, the arrangement being such that when valve 112 is open air under pressure will be supplied to section 104 from the blower 100. At the end of conduit 10 opposite the blower 100 is a second, smaller blower 114 which is driven by means of motor 116. As will be seen, the blower 114 provides a pressure which opposes that produced by blower 100, this second source of air serving to divert material being conveyed from the main coning; and with the valve open and the opening 44 being the line of least resistance, the entire mass of material and air will fall downwardly through the valve opening 44 and into a storage bin or the like. For the successful operation of the valve, air of suflicient quantity and pressure is required to do the actual diverting. This action is best illustrated in FIG. 6. In this respect, the pressure of the secondary air from blower 114 must be equal to the pressure of the primary air from blower 100 and the material conveyed thereby. The volume of secondary air, however, can be varied and this depends upon the requirements of the particular conveying system. Tests have shown that diverting can be accomplished with volumes as low as 10% of the conveying air and up to 100% or equal to the conveying air. These rates will vary according to the material to be conveyed and the abrasive qualities of this same material.

It will be appreciated that all valves except the one leading to the desired storage bin must be closed for the successful operation of the system. In this respect, air for diverting is required only at the one particular valve which is open such that the pressure of the secondary air from blower 114 and its quantity will not change no matter how many valves are in the main conveying line 10.

It is characteristic of granular material transported under high pneumatic pressure to have an abrasive effect on the conduit and other operating portions of the system which are exposed to the ow of material. Since each ofthe valves, when closed, is of streamlined contour along the interior of the conduit, the abrasive elect is substantially reduced, thereby minimizing the principal source of wear in the system. At the same time, this streamlined eect also prevents appreciable pressure drops which detract from the etliciency of the system.

There is no practical limitation in the number of outlets which can be provided in this system. Pour outlets are specifically shown but this can be increased to ten, fteen or any other number. There is no limitation on the class of material being transported other than it must be capable of ow movement under pneumatic force.

As was mentioned above, the successful operation of the system shown in FIG. 1 depends upon only one of the valves A-D being open while the others are closed. The limit switches 70 and 76 on each valve, when properly placed and electrically interconnected will assure that if the valves are not in their desired positions the system will not start, thereby eliminating the possibility of discharging material into the wrong storage bin.

One illustrative type of electrical control system for achieving the foregoing is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the control circuits for the valves A, B and C only are shown, it being understood that this may be extended to any desired number. With reference to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the relay A, 120B or 120C is provided for each of the valves. In the case of Valve B, the arm 46B is shown in its downwardly extending or open position; whereas in the case of valves A and C the arms 46A and 46C are shown n their closed positions. With the arm 46B in the open position, it will engage the limit switch 70B to open its normally closed contacts 122B 1 rnotor MB is broken and the motor stops.

system eliminates the `possibility while closing its normally open Ycentacts 124B. At this i time,` the limit switch `76BLwi11 be in a position where its contactsg126B are open while contacts 128B are closed.- i p L `Let us assume, for'"example,` that itis desiredto drscharge materialinto the storageV bin beneath valve B.

Under these circumstances, thepush button identified start Bwill be depressed,` thereby momentarilyenergiz- `ing the coil `on relay 120B: `When` relay120B is ener-A y gized, its contacts 13GB pull in onclosel to provide a hold- -ing circuitfor the"`coil on relay 120B through'the normally closedy stopv push button identified as""stop B.

` 4,When the start Y,13 buttonis initially depressed, the arm` 46B will be rotated upwardly frofmthe position shown in ",FIG. 6. wherein contacts 126B are closed and'contacts 128B are open on limit `switch 76B. In addition, contacts 124B on limit switch 70B willbe open uwhile contacts 122B will be closed. Consequently, when the start B buttonuis depressed and relay 120B energized, contactsl 132B close as shown to complete a circuit` through cointacts 122B, which are now closed, `to one winding 134B on direct current motor 84B,VV lhis causes the motorto drive the shaft `64B and` rotate the armi` 46B- in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG, 7. This rotation oi the arm 46B will continueuntil it strikes the limit switch to Y 70B to open contacts 122B,.Whereupon the circuit The motors iozrand 116 for blowers ioofnd 114,` j respectively, are controlled by a motor control circuit 136.` This control circuit will be actuated to start the motors 102' and 116"when start switch 138 is closedand when onlyne ofthejgvalves A,"`B or C is open while the t Vother fvalvesare closed. Thus, the motor control circuit 136" will be actuated through switch'138, lead 140, contacts 126C on limitswitch 76C which arenow closed` since the t' arm `46C is raised, lead142, contacts 124B on limit switch 'f 70B which arefnow closed since arm 46B is now lowered with the valvev open,.cont;acts 144B on relay 120B.which are now `closed since the* relay is'energizecl, lead 146 and contacts 126A on limit switch 76A. In this manner, it can `be seen that themotors 102 and 116 will start `to initiate theconveying operation"after"lstart B push button is depressed when, and only when, the valve B is itsopen position while the other valves are all closed. That is, if either of the contacts 126A or'126C is `open indicating that its associated valve is open, the circuitcannotbe completed to control circuit 136 to start theA motors. Thusjthe of discharging material `into the wrong storage-bini i l When it is desired tohclose the valve B, the push button `identiiied as stop B'will be depressed, thereby breaking the holding circuit for the coil on relay 120B and def' energizing this relay When the relay 120B deenergizes,

the circuit to the motor control circuit 136 is broken through contacts 132B on relay 120B so that the motors 102 and116 stop. At the same time, the contacts 148B on relay 120B will now close to energize the otherwinding 150B on rmotor 84B through contacts 128B on'limit switch 176B which are nowclosedsince the arm 46B is in its downwardly-extending position. Consequently, the

motor 84B will now rotate in thefopposite direction `to rotate the arm 46B in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG.,6 until `the limit switch`76B is engaged to close contacts 126B andopen contacts 128Bfwhereupon the motor 84B stops preparatory to a'succeeding cycle of operation.`

t quirements without departing the invention@` form and arrangement of parts may be made to suit refrom the spirit and scope of I claim as my invention: Y 1 l.` A valve for a pneumatic conveying system comprising a` conduit through which finely divided material is vpneumatically conveyed, an opening in the bottom of said conduit, ,cover means for said conduit comprising a backing plate `having a contour shaped to conform to the .con-

tour of said conduit, a resilient gasket carried by the Y backing plate and also shaped to conform to the contour of the conduit whereby the gasket may be forced into sealing engagement over said opening, axle means rotatable about `a generally horizontalaxis, an arm having one end connected to said axle means, means pivotally connecting said backing plate and the ygasket carried thereby to the other end of said arm whereby the backing plate `may be pivotally adjusted on said arm about an axis extending parallel to the axis of said axle means, set screw means on said arm positioned on either side of the pivotal connection of the backing plate to the arm whereby a fixed angular position of the backing plate with respect to the arm may be varied by turning said set V,screw means, and ,t meansforturning said axle means to rotate said arm-and` 25 the backing plate carried thereby from a position where the arm? isfgenerally horizontal with the gasket covering said opening to a position where the arm hangs down from the-axle means in a generally vertical position.

2. A valve for a pneumatic conveying system comprising an enclosure having an open bottom, a conduit extending through the upper portion ,of said enclosure and `adapted to pneumatically convey finely divided material therethrough, an openingn the bottom of said conduit within said enclosure, cover means for said conduit comprising a member having a contour shaped to conform `to the "contour of said'conduit whereby .the member is -adapted to fit over and cover said opening in sealing en-p.- gagement with the conduit, an axle extending between side Walls of said enclosure and rotatable about a general; fly horizontal .axis beneath the cohduit, an arm having onel end` connected to said axle and anotherend connected to `said member, and meansfor turning said axle to rotate said arm and the member carried thereby within said enclosure from a position where the arm is generally horizontal with the member covering said Vopening to a position Where `the arm hangs down in Vthe .Y enclosure Y f `from the axle in a generally vertical position to permit the granular material the enclosure. p

`to fall through said vopening andrinto v 3. A valve for a pneumatic conveying system compris- VYing an enclosure havingan open bottom, a conduit ex- Vtal axis beneath the conduit, anarm having one end con# "nected to said axle and another end connected to said In the particular circuit shown herein, it is, of course, necessaryto open switch `138 before all ofthe limit switches 76A, 76B and 76C ar'eengaged `by their associated arms to prevent the motors 102 and 116 from operating when .Vall valves are closed. As will be understood, this may be accomplished automatically, the circuit shown herein t being for illustrative purposes only.

`Althoughrthe invention has been shown in connection with a certain specific` embodiment,zit will berreadily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in member, means for turning said axle to rotate said arm and the memberjcarried thereby within said enclosureV from' a iirst position where the arm is generally horizontal with` the member covering said opening to a second position where the arm hangs down in the enclosure from the axle in a generally vertical position to permit the i finely divided material to fall through saidopening and into the enclosure, first switch Vmeans actuable when said member is at said first position to deenergize `said means for turning said axle, second switch means actuable when said member is at said second position to deenergize said means for turning said axle, and circuit meansinterconnecting saidiirst and second switchmeans and said means References Cited by the Examiner UNTED STATES PATENTS 9/10 McCleary 251-145 10/21 Medine 251-145 8 Schneider 302-28 Allen 251-134 X I-Iornbrookv 302-28 Gregg 137-592 X Stearns 251-145 Wenzelberger 251-299 X Konemund 251-299 X M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Examiner. 

3. A VALVE FOR A PNEUMATIC CONVEYING SYSTEM COMPRISING AN ENCLOSURE HAVING AN OPEN BOTTOM, A CONDUIT EXTENDING THROUGH THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND ADAPTED TO PNEUMATICALLY CONVEY FINELY DIVIDED MATERIAL THERETHROUGH, AN OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CONDUIT WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE, COVER MEANS FOR SAID CONDUIT COMPRISING A MEMBER HAVING A CONTOUR SHAPED TO CONFORM TO THE CONTOUR OF SAID CONDUIT WHEREBY THE MEMBER IS ADAPTED TO FIT OVER AND CONVER SAID OPENING IN SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CONDUIT, AN AXLE EXTENDING BETWEEN SIDE WALLS OF SAID ENCLOSURE AND ROTATABLE ABOUT A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS BENEATH THE CONDUIT, AN ARM HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID AXLE AND ANOTHER END CONNECTED TO SAID MEMBER, MEANS FOR TURNING SAID AXLE TO ROTATE SAID ARM AND THE MEMBER CARRIED THEREBY WITHIN SAID ENCLOSURE FROM A FIRST POSITION WHERE THE ARM IS GENERALLY HORIZONTAL WITH THE MEMEER COVERING SAID OPENING TO A SECOND POSITION WHERE THE ARM HANGS DOWN IN THE ENCLOSURE FROM THE AXLE IN A GENERALLY VERTICAL POSITION TO PERMIT THE FINELY DIVIDED MATERIAL TO FALL THROUGH SAID OPENING AND INTO THE ENCLOSURE, FIRST SWITCH MEANS ACTUABLE WHEN SAID MEMBER IS AT SAID FIRST POSITION TO DEENERGIZE SAID MEANS FOR TURNING SAID AXLE, SECOND SWITCH MEANS ACTUABLE WHEN SAID MEMBER IS AT SAID SECOND POSITION TO DEENERGIZE SAID MEANS FOR TURNING SAID AXLE, AND CIRCUIT MEANS INTERCON- 